Intrasaccular Flow Disruption: Examining Global Access and Research Trends

Area of Science:

• Neuroendovascular therapy
• Bibliometrics
• Medical device research

Background:

• Intracranial aneurysms pose significant risks, necessitating effective treatment options.
• Intrasaccular flow disruptors, including the Woven EndoBridge (WEB) device, have emerged as promising therapeutic tools.
• Bibliometric analysis offers insights into research trends and productivity in emerging medical fields.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a bibliometric analysis of research on the Woven EndoBridge (WEB) and other intrasaccular flow disruptors for intracranial aneurysms.
• To identify trends in publication, citation, study design, and international collaboration.
• To provide a roadmap for future research in this domain.

Main Methods:

• Systematic assessment of bibliometric data for top-cited articles on WEB and other intrasaccular devices.
• Analysis included citations, journals, study designs, open access status, and multi-institutional involvement.
• Comparison of citation metrics and collaboration patterns between WEB and other devices.

Main Results:

• The top 100 cited WEB studies received significantly more citations (mean 35.6) than studies on other intrasaccular devices (mean 4.24).
• France led WEB publications, while Germany led for other disruptors; no senior authors from Africa were identified.
• WEB research demonstrated higher mean citations per year and a greater proportion of multi-institutional collaborations compared to other devices.

Conclusions:

• Research on the Woven EndoBridge (WEB) is more established and highly cited than for newer intrasaccular devices.
• Study designs remain consistent, but leading countries for WEB research are not necessarily pioneering newer devices.
• There is a notable concentration of research in Europe and North America, with limited global contribution.